News: Council Member Nancy Gardner

city council district 6 v corona del mar & newport coast

Nancy Gardner

council member v newport beach, california

newsletter: march 2010

WE’RE #1 $-WISE
Apparently we’re the wealthiest city of our size in the country. If that’s so we’ve got to be the most dressed-down big-bucks burg there is. When I hear “wealthiest” I’m thinking designer togs, styling haircuts and diamonds as big as the Ritz, but if you go to the CdM Farmer’s Market on Saturday the people there could be the actual farmers for all the glamour they (we) exude. It’s a lot more Gap than Gucci, baseball caps instead of bouffants, and the big accessory item is a reusable cotton bag. And this extends throughout town. Granted, some of the boats in front of the Bay Club would bring a smile from a Greek shipping tycoon, but it seems to me we wear our wealth pretty modestly-- which is a style in itself.

WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE?
The Corona del Mar BID (Business Improvement District) has basically redesigned the village, and if you don’t believe it, look at photos of CdM from fifteen years ago and compare that stark PCH with the verdant thoroughfare of today. The latest effort of the BID is to improve the mix of businesses in the village. They’ll be asking residents what they would like to see in town (you can send your ideas to me, if you want, but think small. We don’t have space for a Home Depot). Also, if you’re traveling and find a business you think would fit well, get a business card from the establishment. In both cases, the material will be given to the City’s Economic Development team for follow up. It doesn’t have to be limited to CdM, either. Ideas for the rest of town are welcome.

BIKE SAFETY TASK FORCE
The Task Force is finalizing its suggestions and they will range from cutting edge ideas like sharrows to mainstream entries like more bike racks. We have discovered a lot of places in town that don’t have racks, and many are exactly where we would like more bike transportation such as the Wedge. The final report should be out in April.

BUCK GULLY BLUFF STABILIZATION
There has been a lot of erosion over the last decade in Lower Buck Gully, as has been reported, and staff came up with both a plan to fix it and a plan to fund it, namely, a grant, but it looked like a no-go initially because the City needed easements from a number of property owners and many of them were a little leery, but staff worked hard to answer their questions, and we got the necessary rights so that we can proceed with the project which will go a long way toward stabilizing the vulnerable areas.

AIRPORT
The City is making a concerted effort to build a coalition to insure the controls remain in place at JWA. This began with outreach to the immediate corridor cities, and there are regular meetings with them. The next step is expanding the coalition to other cities. Mayor Curry, City Manager Kiff and I had lunch the other day with our counterparts from Laguna Beach, and they took the matter back to their council which approved a resolution of support. Other cities are currently being contacted.

NEWPORT COAST CLOSURES
IRWD is doing an eight-month project which will mean lane closures on Newport Coast Drive including the bike lanes. At this point I don’t have a contact, but I’m assuming that there will be information on IRWD’s web site, www.irwd.com

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FUTURE TOPIC SUGGESTIONS

This is a two-way process, so please don’t hesitate to contact me with your ideas and opinions.

Council Member Nancy Gardner

QUALITY OF LIFE Advocate FOR NEWPORT BEACH

City of Newport Beach | 3300 Newport Blvd | Newport Beach, CA 92663

Phone: 949.644.3004 | EMAIL: gardnerncy@aol.com